摆弄 (bǎi nòng) — to fiddle with, to toy with (with one's hands); to manipulate, to order about (people)

Definition

Two senses: to fiddle or toy with something physically (an object, a device), and figuratively to manipulate or order people around — always with a sense of careless or controlling handling.

verb
to fiddle withto toy with (with one's hands)to manipulateto order about (people)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 摆弄。
    Tā méi shì jiù xǐ huan bǎi nòng nà tái jiù shōu yīn jī.
    He likes to fiddle with that old radio whenever he has nothing to do.
  • 摆弄，。
    Bié zǒng bǎi nòng bié rén, ràng tā men zì jǐ jué dìng.
    Stop manipulating others all the time; let them decide for themselves.
  • 摆弄。
    Jīng lǐ bǎ yuán gōng bǎi nòng dé tuán tuán zhuàn.
    The manager ordered the employees around until they were dizzy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

摆bǎimove/arrange
弄nònghandle

“摆” and “弄” both describe handling actions, so together mean fiddle with or manipulate.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擺; 摆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
罷
罷bà擺bǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 擺 has 手 (hand) with 罷 giving the sound bà; the simplified 摆 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 摆 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 弄 combines 玉 (jade) with 廾 (hands), showing hands touching or handling jade.

Open 弄 →

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